Portable folding swivel chair



March 10, 1959 Y J, BQORTZ I I 2,876,825

PORTABLE FOLDING SWIVEL CHAIR Filed Nov. 20, 1956' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

John A. Boar/z IN VEN TOR.

March 10, 1959 J. A. BOORTZ PORTABLE FOLDING SWIVEL CHAIR 2 sh ets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1956 Fig. 4;

.John A. Boon:

INVENTOR.

BY %w and United States Patent 1 2,876,825 PORTABLE FOLDING SWIVEL CHAIR John A. Boortz, Thrall, Tex. Application November 20, 1956, Serial No. 623,336 Claims. (Cl. 155-139) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in chair construction and more specifically to a portable folding swivel chair.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a swivel chair which is folda'ble and portable whereby the swivel chair may be readily carried to sporting events and the like in a compact folded state and may then be readily opened to form a rigid chair of the swivel type for general use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel chair of the portable and folding type, the swivel chair including a seat member having attached thereto a back hinged for folding to a position overlying the seat member, said seat member being swivelly connected to a base member and there being connected to the base member for folding to a position underlying the seat member suitable legs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved chair of the portable folding type, the chair being constructed wtih a base having a seat member vertically adjusted thereon so as to accommodate persons of different leg lengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel chair of the portable and folding type, the swivel chair including a nected thereto a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, the legs being hinged with respect to the base member whereby they may be stored within generally the plane of the base member, there being provided on the base member means for locking the legs in extended positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel chair which is of a light weight construction and which is so formed whereby all of the components thereof fold towards each other so that they occupy a space substantially the same cross-section as the seat member of the chair and relatively thin, the seat member being provided with an opening to facilitate the carrying of the chair.

-These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the folding chair and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the folding chair and shows further the details of the construction thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the folding chair of Figure l and shows the chair in its folded state ready for carrying, a carrying strap being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure-l and shows the specific manner in which the legs are locked in extended positions;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 1 and shows the swivel connection between the seat member and the base member; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sec tion line 6-6 of Figure 4 and shows the details of a latch for securing the legs in retracted positions.

base member which has con- Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the portable folding swivel chair which is the subject of this invention, the chair being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The chair 10 includes a base member 12, a seat member 14, a back member 16, a front leg assembly 18, and a rear leg assembly 20.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that the base member 12 is of a channel shape cross-section and includes a top wall 22, depending side walls 24 and inturned bottom flanges 26. The base member 12 is elongated as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

The seat member 14 includes a fiat uppermost body support plate 28 which is reinforced by a peripheral depending flange 30. Connecting means 32 serve to connect the seat member 14 to the base member 12.

The connecting means 32 are of the swivel type and includes an internally threaded sleeve 34 which is positioned within the confines of the base member 12 and which is secured to the underside of the top wall 22 thereof. The sleeve 34 is disposed centrally of the length of the base member 12 and has threadedly engaged therein an externally threaded shaft 36.

Secured to the underside of the plate 28 is a reinforcing plate 38 and a mounting fitting 40, the plates 28 and 38 are secured together by fasteners 42 which also secure the fitting 40 in place. The shaft 36 has an upper end 44 which is disposed within the confines of the fitting 40 and which is secured thereto by means of a suitable pin 46. Thus the seat member 14 is mounted on the base member 12 for swivel movement.

The back member 16 is hingedly connected to the rear edge of the base member 14 for folding movement to a position overlying the seat member 14 by means of binge assemblies 47 disposed at opposite corners of the rear part of the seat member 14. The back mem ber 16 is retained in an upright position such as that illustrated in Figure l by means of suitable braces 48. The upper rear ends of the braces 48 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the back member 16 by means of pins 50. The lower forward ends of the braces 48 are provided with pins 52 which travel in elongated slots 54 in the side parts of the flange 30 and the seat member 14.

Referring now to Figure 4 in it will be seen that the front leg assembly 18 includes a pair of diverging front legs 56 which are connected together at their upper ends by means of an integral horizontal connecting member 58. The connecting member 58 passes through the side walls 24 of the base member 12 and is journaled therein.

The rear leg assembly 20 is of a similar construction to the front leg assembly 18 and includes downwardly diverging rear legs 60 which are connected together at their upper ends by integral horizontal connecting members 62. Like the connecting member 58, the connecting member 62 extends through and is rotatably journaled in the side walls 24 of the base member 12. The lower ends of the legs 56 and 60 are provided with rubber tips 64 of a conventional type.

Referring again to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the flanges 26 of the base member 12 are connected together at their forward ends by means of a transversely extending stop member 64. When the front leg assembly 18 is in an extended position, such as that illustrated in Figure 1, the legs 56 thereof engage the stop member 64 to limit further forward swingingmovement. Accidental rearward swinging movement of the front legs 56 is prevented by means of a lock member 66 which is hingedly connected to the stop member particular once again,

' .3 by means of releasable .fastener .63. lbs loch member 66 is notched as at 70 to receive one of the front legs 56.

The rear ends of the flanges 26 of the base member 112 are-connected together by 1a second stop member 72. The :stop member :72 is positioned to engage the rear legs 6013f the rear deg-assembly 20 to'prevent rearward swinging movement .of {the rear leg assembly "20 rfrorn the position illustrated 'in figure 1. :Forward swinging movement of IthB rear leg assembly .20 is prevented by means of a lock member 74 pivotally connected to the stop :member 172 by :means of :a releasable fastener '76. Theflock-member 74 is provide'cl'with ainotch 78 .in whicn one of .the rear legs 60 is seated.

It is to be understood :that lthe'entire chair is to be .:formed :of lightweight materials, ssuh as aluminum, magnesium or plastic, or may be formed of relatively thin structural material such as steel so :that :the ientire weight-off ithe chair is very little. However, it isareadil-y apparent that the aconstruction "of the chair sis such that when in its usable state, :such as thatillusuzatedin.Figure 1, it is capable of supporting arlarge person'nnder unusual conditions.

When it is desired to carry the chair 10, it'may be folded :to the position illustrated ;in Figure .3. This is accomplishedby folding the backmember 16 down into overlying relation to the seat member .14. The back member 16 and the seat member .14 are :moved downwardlytowards the base memberlil utilizingthe threaded connection between the-shaft 36 and the sleeve 34. 'Then the front leg assembly 18 is first swung .rearwardly to its ,positionof :Figure 3 after-which .the 'rear leg assembly 20 is swung forwardly as is also shown in Figure 3. The front leg assembly 18 is overlaid :by the rear leg assembly 20 and is retained in :place thereby. The rear leg assembly 20 is retained :ina foldedz'state by means of latch means in the form of axpluralityof clips 80 secured :to'the underside of the seat member 14, as is .best illustrated in Figures 4 and 6.

In order to facilitate carrying of :the chair 10in its folded state, the forward :part of the plate 28 is provided with an opening 82, .as is bestillustrated in Figure 4. The opening 82 is:so positioned whereby one may readily grasp the forward .part of the seat member 14 tozcarryithe chair 10.

An alternative methodof carrying the c'hairlll is to provide :a strap assembly such was'thatishown in dotted lines .-in Figure 3, the strap assembly .beingzreferred to by the reference numeral 84. The strap assembly 1-84 willinclude.arp'air ofspaced hooks 36 which are'engaged in .apertures '88 of a transversely textending plate .90. The-plate :90, as .is best illustrated in Figures-4 and 6, overlies the top wall 220i the 'basemember 12 at the forward end of the base memberl'z.

,As is :best illustrated :in' Eigurei, the iback 16 1 includes a webbing to form a back support. When such awebbing :is used, if itis so desired, =thexrod which;is apart of'the-hingeassembly 47 may beusedito anchor-the lower ends'ofthewebbing.

It will bereadily apparent fromithe foregoing description-of the 'foldingioperation :of the chair .10, that'the chair 10 maybe readilyifolded toa very compact stage. Inasmuch as the chair 10 is ofra lightweight construction, it may beireadily transported from place toplace as desired.

:1 he foreoging :is considered .as illustrative only .of the principles of -the invention. Further, .sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur .to those skilled" in the art, itis not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and Operation shown and described, andfa'cc'ordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling 'withinthe scope oi'the invention as claimed.

'Whatis claimed as new is as follows:

T1. 'A "portable -folding Icha'ir comprising :a rigid jonepiece"basemenrber, a frontpairof legs directly pivotally connected .to said base member, .a .rear .pair of legs .di rectly pivotally connected .to said base member, a seat member, connecting meansconnecting said seat member to said base member in overlying relation, lock means carried thy said base=member for-retaining said front and rear pairs of'legs'in extended positions, latch means carried by said seat member for retaining said front and rear'pairsofilegs:inzretractedpositions.

2. A portable :folding chair comprising a rigid onepiece base member, a front pair of legs pivotally con nected to "said 'base member, :a rear pair of l'egs-pivotally connected to said base member, 1a seat member, connecting means connecting said seat member to :said base member in overlying relation, lock means carried by said {base member for --retaining :said front and :rear pairs of legs in extended positionsplatch meanscarried by said seat member for :retaining said front and rear pairs-'of legs .inretracted positions, a horizontal connectingzmember connecting legs of each of said pairs of legsito form a U-shaped l'eg assembly, :said horizontal connecting members being journaled in .said 'base meniber.

3. A portable folding chair comprising a rigid -:onepiece base member, a front pair of legs pivotally connected to'said base member, arearapair-of legs pivotally connected :to said :base member, a seat member, connecting meansconnecting said seat-member to said base memher in overlying relation, lock means carried by said base member for retaining said front and :rear pairs of legs .in extended positions, latch means carried by said seat member foriretainin'g said frontand rear pairs-0f legs tin :retracted positions, .said lock means including a stop member for each of said pairs of legs,-a-ilock;member carried by each of said stop members.

4. .A portable Qfolding chair comprising -'a rigid onepiece base member, a front pair of @legs directly pivotally connected to said base member, a rear :pair 'of legs directly pivotally connected to said base member, a seat member, connecting means connecting said seat member tozsaid base memberinoverlying relation, lock-means carried by :said base member :for retaining said front and rear pairs of legs in extended positions, latch means can ried by :said seat member for retaining said front and rear pairs of legs in retracted positions, said latch means includingatileast oneclip "for receiving 0ne of said front 3 legs, said front legs overlying said rear legs when =retracted and retaining said rear legs in retracted positions.

5. A portable folding chair comprising a :rigid onepiece base'member, .a front pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said base member, a rear'pair-of legs pivotally connected'ito :sa'id basemember, asea't member, connectingmeanscounecting said seat member to said base memher in overlying relation, .lock means carried by said base member forretaining :said front and rear pairsof legs in extended positions, latch means carried by said seat member :for retaining said iront and'rear pairs=of legs in retracted positions, .said'lock means including a stop member for each of said :pairsof -legs, a lock member carried ':by each of said .stop members, said latch means including at least one1clip ifor :receivingone of said :front legs, 'said front .legs overlying said rear legs whenretracted and retaining said "rear flegs in retracted positions.

References Cited in the file .of this ;patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS 897,737 Goodrich Sept. 1,.1-908 1,860,875 Tyler et a1. May .311, 1932 1,864,535 .Hach et al. JuneYZ-S, 1932 1,913,418 "Wallinder .June v13,.1933 2,483,309 Amaducci Sept. 27, 1949 2,672,387 Barricks Mar. 1.6, .1954 2,759,528 .Rachman et a1. -Aug.,.21, 1956 2,784,042 Clapper .Mar.. 5, 1957 2,785,936 fCvikich 1Mar. 19, 19.57 2,817,567 "Shepherdson Dec. 24, I957 

